MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said that the Giants “did not communicate with its players adequately about the uniform rules” as part of his response to U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who threatened the league’s antitrust exemption after players wrote biblical inscriptions on the team’s Pride Night caps, according to Shayna Rubin of the S.F. CHRONICLE. Manfred’s response reiterated that the uniform rule is “collectively bargained” with the MLBPA and “is a routine, verbal warning that goes to all players who alter or write on their uniforms.” Manfred noted that baseball has “largely accommodated players who feel uncomfortable wearing Pride-related gear.” The Dodgers and Giants, per their request, were “grandfathered into keeping the Pride emblems on their jerseys for their Pride games, as long as no player or staff would be required to wear them.” Manfred added that “some players did not understand that they had the option to wear their normal uniform” and added the Bible verse to their Pride hat instead. Manfred said that the routine warning “was issued before MLB realized that the Giants had not properly communicated to players.” Giants P Sam Hentges was the only one of the four pitchers who opted out of wearing the Pride hat (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/22).
SEASON OF MISSTEPS: In S.F., Ann Killion noted the Giants’ highest paid player on the team, 3B Rafael Devers, “selfishly disrespected his manager” Tony Vitello and his teammates by “trying to defy common-sense game strategy.” But this misstep, along with the Pride Night controversy, in this “disastrous season, speak to the same problem.” The Giants “have a lack of leadership.” Vitello tapped CF Jonah Cox to “pinch run for the very-unfast Devers, which was the correct baseball move.” But Devers “wagged his finger menacingly at the dugout, warning his manager not to make the move.” Vitello said that he had “no plans to talk to him specifically about the incident,” one which “created more bad optics and was a talking point throughout baseball.” Killion noted while Vitello is not “directly creating the issues, they are a manifestation of the biggest concern when he was hired.” Killion: “How would a man with no MLB experience have authority and credibility with his players?” And President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey “seems fine with the situation.” Killion wrote Posey’s “leadership of this flailing organization isn’t visible. … It’s one thing to lose baseball games at an astonishing pace. It’s another thing to lose your dignity and your culture” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/22).
